Return bend



F. C. FANTZ RETURN BEND Feb. 2, 1 932.

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 21, 1930 INV ENTOR a, C. M

ATTORN EY F. c. FANTZ RETURN BEND.

Feb. 2,

Filed June 21, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR %1OL $43441 A 55 Feb. 2, 1932. F c FANTZI 1,843,125

\RETUR'N BEND I Filed dune 21, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORN EY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 21, 1950 INVENTOR QMQ-M BY j ,Q bm

A ORNEY Feb. 2, 1932.

Patented Feb. 2, 1932 FRED G. FANTZ, OF WEBSTER GROYES, MISS OURI BETURN IB-END Application filed June 21,

My invention relates to return bends of the class described in my United States Letters Patent No. 1,752,331, issued April 1, 1930, which are intended to be used in cracking stills and similar locations.

It is well known that cracking stills are operated under high pressures and temperature. These conditions cause considerable coking inside the tubes, which must be cleaned out, and this is usually done with a, tubecleaner. Also, in some cases the tubes sag, and if they could be turned it would save replacement. Some tubes give way, and must be replaced. Since it is exceedingly expensive to shutdown a still, the time element is even more important than the expense of the new parts. F urthermore, when the tubes are rolled into the return bend, it means if one tube gives way the other must he cut off in order to make the replacement. It-is well known that these tubes are placed in banks or nests, and it is highly important to have a bend which can be conveniently removed or replaced in the bank.

As described in my aforementioned Patent No. 1,752,331, I provide a construction which will permit of the changing of a single tube or the turning of a bowed one, as well as the quick and easy removal of the bend in order to gain access to the tubes for cleaning purposes. To this end, I employ a sectional bushing mounted intermediatethe housing of the return bend and the tube.

My present invention has for its object, to construct a return bend of the type described, in which the housing will be formed in halves which are suitably hinged together, so that it can be removed from the tubes and replaced without the necessity of using a sectionalmetal bushing, and which will not only permit the changing of one tube without having to cut off the adjacent tube, but will also permit the removal of the bend so that a tube cleaner may be used conveniently.

Another object of my invention'is to en tirely eliminate the sectional bushing, and thereby permit very close spacing of the tubes in the bank without sacrificing ease of access to the tubes.

A concrete embodiment of my invention is it so there is no weakness 1930. Serial No. 462,749.

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the same;

Fig. 7 is an end view of the same, partly in section; V

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the same; and

Fig. 9 is a modified form of securing means.

Similar references refer to similar parts throughout the entire description.

As shown in the drawings, the return bend 1 is located in a housing formed in halves 2 and 3, which, when closed, form two annular portions 4 and 5 which are adapted to encircle two tubes 6 and 7, adjacent their ends. These tubes 6 and 7 have shouldered or expanded ends 8 and9, and, as shown, fit grooves 10 and 11 formed in the faces of the return bend 1, though it will be plain that my invention is not limited to any particular style of joint.

Shoulders are formed on the internal surface of the annular portions 4 and 5 of the housing, and engage the lower edge of a reinforcing ring or collar 12, placed on each tube below the expanded or upset portion. 85 This avoids the necessit of upsetting the tube for considerable length, and yet reinforces resent. The upper edge of the ring 12 is tted to the shoulders 8 and 9 on the tubes 6 and 7.

The halves 2 and 3 are locked together, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, by means of a circular recess or groove 13 turned. in the central portion, there being a vertical hole 14: at the center of said recess 13. A bolt 15 is fitted to this hole 14, its head fitting into a hexagonal or square socket, as is desired. In practice it may be found desirable to tackweld this bolt 15 to one-of the halves, so that it will not drop out when they are opened, A

. tion and a downwardly-extending peripheral flange mounted on the bolt 15. Obviously, when this which fits the circular recess 13, 1s

nut 16 is screwed down on the bolt 15, the halves 2 and 3 are securely locked together.

.I-Iinge pins 17 and 18 are formed at each end of the housing adjacent the annular portions .4 and 5. These pins 17 and 18, as shown in Fig. 2, have one half formed by each half of the housing. 7 A steel ring 19 is then fittedover the ins 17 and 18, an absent the previously escribed lock, the halves 2 and 3 arefree to swing on their hinges, as shown in dotted lines in- Fi 4. When so swung it will be seen that t e internal surfaces of the annular portions 4 and 5 are clear of the expanded ends of the tubes 6 and 7. In order to lessen the amount of movement required to clear these expanded portions and the resultant projection of the corners 20 of the halves 2 and 3, I cut away portions 21 and 22 of the internal surfaces of the annular portions 4 and 5 adjacent their adjoining edges, as clearly seen in Fig. 2. I also cut away a portion of the corners 20. These two features permit the spacing between the tubes inthe bank to be much less than now possible.

Each annular portion 4 and 5 has cast or formed thereon upwardly-extending walls 23 and 24. Slots 25 and 26 are formed therein, to receive cross members 27, which are provided with central threaded apertures 28, in which I mount set screws 29, the inner ends of which .are adapted to engage abutments 30 formed'on the return bend 1. The

ends of the cross members 27 project through the slots 25 and 26, and are preferably provided with lips 31. Obviously, by tightening the set screws 29, the ends of the tubes 6 i and 7 will be pressed tightly into engagement with the face of the return bend 1, and a tight joint obtained, which I have found in practice will sustain a pressure far in excess of that to which it is subjected in use in a still. Although I have illustrated and described a specific type of tightening means, I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as the detachable means for this purpose, shown in my Patent No. 1,752,331, may be here employed.

In Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, I have shown a modified form of fastening device,'and a different hinge construction. As there illustrated, T-slots' 33 and 34 are formed in each half of the housing, adjacent its center, into which is fitted an Hshaped key 35, the sides of the H fitting into the heads of the Ts. It

is necessary to finish the engaging surfaces to ensure a tight fit. When this is done, however, the two halves 2 and 3 are held as one piece. In these housings I show. the

hinges made by forming the hinge pins 36 on one half and the butt 37 on the other half, which holds the halves 2 and 3 together, though permitting them to swing, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8.

In some cases it may be founddesirable, m practice,t0 construct the reinforcing ring 12 as shown in Fig.9, in which a downwardly and outwardly tapering shoulder 40 is formed in the annular portions 4 and 5, and

,the lower edge 41 of the ring 12 is formed to fit this tapered shoulder "40, with the result that tightening the set screws 29 will cause the taper to draw the halves 2 and 3 more tightly. together.

To gain access to the tubes 6 and 7, for cleaning purposes, all that is necessary is to loosen the set screws 29 and remove the cross members 27, when a slight blow with a hammer will dislodge the return bend 1 and it can be lifted out of the housing. If a tube is to be removed, the locking member (whether the nut 16 or H-shaped key 35) is removed,

' and the housing can then be swung on the hinge pins, as shown in the dotted lines, and the entire housing can be removed without difliculty. To replace it,-the annular members 4 and 5 are slipped over the ends of the tubes 6 and 7 and then swung 011 the pins to the position shown in full lines, and the locking member (nut 16, or H-shaped key 35) placed in position; the return bend 1 is then placed in the housing, and the ends of the cross members 27 inserted in the slots 25 and 26, when by tightening the set screws 29, the return bend 1 is tightened against the tubes 6 and 7, and the device is ready for use.

For the purpose of full disclosure of my invention I have shown and described in some detail a specific embodiment thereof; but it will be apparent that numerous changes might be made in the physical embodiment of my invention within the scope of the claims, and I therefore do not desire to be understood as limiting myself, in the broader aspect of my invention, to the specific construction illustrated and described.

Having described my invention, what I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A return bend, a compound housing comprising a plurality of hingedly connected sections, inwardly extending flanges on said sections adapted to engage beneath outwardly flared ends of a pair of tubes, the faces of the return bend engaging the ends of said tubes, detachable means mounted in said housing to draw the faces of the bend and the ends of the tubes tightly together and means to lock the two halves of the housing securely together.

2. A return bend, a compound housing therefor comprising a plurality of hingedly connected sections, arcuate flanges on said sections which terminate a substantial distance from the plane of the abutting edges of the housing sections, said flanges being adaptpanded ends thereof, said inwardly extending 5 said return bend.

3. A return bend, a compound housing therefor comprising a plurality of hingedly connected sections adapted to encircle the expanded ends of a pair of tubes, sectional rings which encircle said tubes and abut the exflanges engaging said rings, the faces of the return bend engaging the ends of said tubes, detachable means mounted in said housing to draw'the faces of the bend and the ends of the tubes tightly together and means to lock the two' halves of the housing securely together.

4. A return bend, a compound housing therefor comprising a plurality of hingedly connected sections, arcuate flanges on said sections which terminate a substantial distance from the plane of the abutting edges of the housin sections, a pair of tubes having expandef ends, rings which encircle said tubes and abut said expanded ends, said arcuate flanges engaging said rings, the face of the return bend engaging the ends of said tubes, detachable means mounted in said housing to draw the faces of the bend and the ends of the tubes tightly together and means to lock the two halves of the housing securely together.

5. A return bend, a compound housing therefor comprising a plurality of hingedly connected sections, a plurality of upwardly extending side walls, the lower ends of which terminate in inwardly extending flanges adapted to engage beneath the outwardly flared ends of a pair of tubes, the face of the return bend engaging the ends of said tubes, means mounted in said housingto draw the faces of the bend and the ends of the tubes tightly together and means to lock the two halves of the housing securely together.

6. A return bend, a compound housing therefor comprising a plurality of hingedly connected sections, a plurality of upwardly extending side walls, arcuate flanges at the lower ends of said walls which terminate a substantial distance from the abutting edges of the housing sections, adapted to engage beineath the outwardly flared ends of a pair-of tubes, the'face of the return bend engaging the ends of said tubes, means mounted in said housing to draw the faces of the bend and the ends of the tubes tightly together and means to lock the two halves of the housing securely together. 4

7. A return bend, a housing therefor for-med in halves, which when closed has annularportions adapted to encircle a pair of tubes, expanded ends on saidv tubes, rings which encircle said tubes and abut the expanded ends thereof, the faces of said bend engagingthe ends of said tubes, detachable means mounted in said housing to draw the faces of the bend and the ends of the tubes tightly together, hinged pins at the ends of said housing, half of each pin being formed integral with each half of saidhousing, rings which encircle said pins, and means to lock the two halves of said housing securely together. r J

8. A return bend, a housing. therefor formed in halves, which when closed has annular portions adapted to encircle a pair of tubes, expanded ends on said tubes, rings which encircle said tubes andabut the expanded ends thereof, the faces of said return bend engaging the ends of said tubes, detachable means mounted in said housing to draw the faces of the bend and the ends of the tubes tightly together, a hinge pin formed integral at the end of each half of said housing, a hinge butt formed integral with the other half of said housing, in which said pin swings, and means to lock the two halves securely together.

9. A return bend, a housing therefor formed in halves, which when closed has annular portions adapted to encircle a pair of tubes, expanded ends on said tubes, internal shoulders on said annular portions which abut the expanded ends of the tubes, the faces of the return bend engaging the ends of said tubes, detachable means mounted in said housing to draw the faces of the bend and the ends of the tubes tightly together, a circular recess intermediate said annular portions, having a central aperture therethrough, a bolt therein, and a nut on said bolt, said nut having a recess-engaging portion formed thereon, whereby when the nut is tightened the two halves of said housing are locked together.

10. A return bend, a housing therefor formed in halves, which when closed has annular portions adapted to encircle a pair of tubes, expanded ends on said tubes, internal shoulders on said annular portions which housing therefor comprising a plurality of hingedly connected sections, inwardly extending flanges on said sections adapted to engage beneath said external shoulders, upwardly extending side walls on said sections, the faces of said bend engaging the upset ends of said tubes, a member means detachshoulders, of a return bend, a compound 1 ably mounted in said side walls, set screws in said member means which engage said return bend, and means to lock the halves of said housing securely together. 12. The combination with a pair of tubes, the ends of which are upset-t0 form external shoulders, of a return bend, a compound housing therefor comprising a plurality of hingedly connected sections, rings on said tubes which abut said external shoulders,

said inwardly extending flanges engaging said rings, upwardly extendin side walls on said sections, the faces of said bend engaging the upset ends of said tubes, means which engage said returnbend, and means to lock the halves of said-housing securely together. U 13. The combination with a air of tubes, the ends of which are upset to orm external shoulders, of a return bend, a compound housing therefor comprisinga plurallty of hingedly connected sections, arcuate flanges on said sections which terminate a substantial distance from the plane of the abutting edges of the housing sections, said flanges being adapted to engage beneath the external shoulders on said tubes, upwardly extending side wallson said sections, the faces of said bend engaging the upset ends of said tubes, means detachably mounted on said side walls, set screws in said means which engage said return bend, and means to lock the halves of said'housingsecurely together. 14:. The combination with a pair of tubes,

' the ends of which are upset toform external shoulders on a return bend, a compound housing therefor comprising aplurahty' of hingedly connected sections, arcuate flanges on said sections which terminate a substantial distance from the plane of the abutting edges of the housing sections, rings which encircle said tubes and abut said external shoulders, said arcuate flanges engaging said rings,'upwardly. extending side walls on said sections, the faces of said bend engaging the upset ends said tubes, means detachably mounted on said side walls, set screws in said means which engage said return bend, and means to lock the halves of said housing securely together. RED I F F NTZ'. 

